Four turnovers. Three fumbles. Twenty-one points scored by the opposing defense. One crushing defeat, and no time to relax.
That?s the scenario the Maryland football team finds itself facing after Saturday?s 38-16 loss at Boston College. The Terps are heading into a truncated practice week leading up to a crucial game in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
“I think our kids are a little bit down,” Terps coach Ralph Friedgen said. “We?re going to work our way through this. We have a lot to play for.”
The Terps (8-3, 5-2) can win the ACC Atlantic Division with a win over Wake Forest Saturday and a Miami win over Boston College Thursday night.
“We need to finish,” Friedgen said. “We need to finish this season. We?ve had too good a season to not give everything we have to this game.”
For the Terps to do that, Friedgen said the work couldn?t start soon enough. With coaches and players itching to get right back to work after last weekend?s crushing loss, they also need to crack down because of the shortened holiday week. The team will practice Thursday morning, but the coach believes wholeheartedly in allowing his players and staff to enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday.
“As far as from game preparation, everything is condensed,” Friedgen said.
But there is work to be done after a game that Friedgen described as the team?s worst so far.
“It was embarrassing to come out and make those mistakes,” senior quarterback Sam Hollenbach said. “And we had an uphill battle from the get-go.”
The Terps now must adjust from being in the driver?s seat to needing some help to sneak into the ACC championship in Jacksonville, Fla., on Dec. 2. Relying on Miami (5-6) to defeat Boston College (9-2) is not what the Terps were hoping for in their final week.
“It?s hard just thinking about not taking advantage of an opportunity,” senior running back Josh Allen said. “We had control of it, but we let it go. Now, we just have to move on. We have control of one thing, and that?s how we play on Saturday.”
Heading into Saturday?s game with Wake Forest (9-2, 5-2) Friedgen isn?t concerned about his team?s mentality.
“The kids are resilient,” Friedgen said. “They?ll bounce back.”
Wake Forest at Maryland
Where: Byrd Stadium
When: 7:45 p.m. Saturday
TV: ESPN Radio: 1300AM/105.7 FM
